Kaifi Azmi: An Inspiration for Young Poets

Kaifi Azmi was born on 14 January 1919. He left a great impact on literary society while leaving us forever on 10 May 2002.

He is known for his great Urdu works but his work is not limited to only that. Azmi’s real name was Akhtar Hussain Rizvi. Azmi has one daughter Shabana Azmi who is a well-known actress and one son Baba Azmi who is also in the Bollywood entertainment industry and works as a cinematographer.

Kaifi Azmi wrote his first ghazal ‘Itna To Zindagi Mein Kisi Ki Khalal Pade‘ when he was only eleven years old. This ghazal later moved so many hearts and was sung by Begum Akhtar, a great ghazal singer of the time. Kaifi Azmi left his Urdu and Persian studies and became a full-time writer. He had good leadership skills and was soon discovered by writers of Lucknow. He soon became a progressive writer.  

Azmi talks about equality in his poems, both in financial terms and in gender equality. He always supported women to grow. Through his poems, he empowered them and encouraged them to move on to the path of equality. He was deeply moved by Gandhi Ji’s movement. In support of that, he moved to Bombay to write for a newspaper. 

Literary Works of Kaifi Azmi

‘Jhankar’ was Azmi’s first collection of poems which was published in 1943. Kaifi Azmi also worked in films as a lyricist, actor, and writer. His song Kar Chale Hum Fida Jan-O-Tan Sathiyo was a great success and it is still heard by people with warm hearts. 

Kaifi Azmi received Padma Shri, the fourth greatest Indian award for his contribution to poetry. He also received Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu, Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy Award, Special Award of Maharashtra Urdu Academy, and other state awards. To give tribute to this great personality Indian government has named a train after him ‘Kaifiyat Express’.  

Representative Poems

Here are some of the Ghazals that you would like to read.